Team 1114

Team 1114, also known as Simi Valley High School Robotics, is a student-led FIRST Robotics Competition team based at Simi Valley High School in California. Founded in 2003, the team has established a strong reputation for engineering excellence and competitive success within the international FIRST community. It operates as a dedicated extracurricular activity that emphasizes hands-on learning in STEM fields, fostering technical and professional skills among its members. The team consistently competes in the challenging FIRST Robotics Competition game, which changes annually, requiring rapid design and fabrication of a unique industrial robot.

Team History

The team was founded in 2003 through the initiative of educators and local engineers seeking to expand STEM opportunities in the Simi Valley Unified School District. Early mentorship and support were provided by professionals from the nearby aerospace and defense industry sectors, which are prevalent in the Greater Los Angeles area. A significant milestone was achieved in 2008 when the team qualified for the FIRST Championship for the first time, held that year at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Throughout its history, the team has maintained a strong partnership with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, receiving technical guidance and resources that have profoundly influenced its engineering approach. The team's growth has been supported by sustained sponsorship from major corporations like Boeing, Raytheon, and Lockheed Martin, alongside numerous local businesses.

Competition Record

Team 1114 has a distinguished record at both regional and championship levels of the FIRST Robotics Competition. The team is a frequent contender at the Los Angeles Regional and has also competed successfully at other events like the Ventura County Regional. A major competitive highlight was winning the prestigious Chairman's Award at the Los Angeles Regional in 2012, an honor that recognizes a team's holistic impact beyond the robot game. The team has secured multiple Regional Winner titles and has been a consistent Einstein Field contender at the FIRST Championship in Houston. In the 2019 game, *Destination: Deep Space*, the team's performance earned it a coveted spot in the Einstein Field playoffs, competing alongside elite teams like Team 254 and Team 148.

Awards and Recognition

Beyond its competitive successes, Team 1114 has been honored with some of FIRST's most prestigious judged awards. The aforementioned Chairman's Award win is considered the program's highest honor. The team has also received multiple Engineering Inspiration Award accolades, which celebrate outstanding advancement of engineering and technical respect within a school and community. Judges have frequently recognized the team's robot with the Industrial Design Award, sponsored by General Motors, for excellence in functional and aesthetic design. Furthermore, the team has earned the Quality Award, sponsored by Motorola, and the Innovation in Control Award, sponsored by Rockwell Automation, highlighting its prowess in control systems and software engineering.

Community Involvement

Team 1114 maintains an extensive outreach program aimed at inspiring younger students in Simi Valley and surrounding communities. Members regularly mentor and host workshops for FIRST LEGO League and FIRST Tech Challenge teams throughout Ventura County. The team organizes and runs an annual STEM expo for local elementary schools, featuring demonstrations of its competition robots. Furthermore, it participates in community events such as the Simi Valley Street Fair and Ventura County Fair to showcase robotics technology to the public. A key initiative is its "Robotics in a Box" program, which provides portable kits and curriculum to teachers to integrate basic robotics into their classrooms.

Robot Designs

The team's robots are renowned for their robust mechanical design, often incorporating custom-machined components fabricated in its on-campus workshop. For the 2020 game, *Infinite Recharge*, the team's robot featured a sophisticated turreted shooter mechanism and a unique climbing mechanism to scale the game's shield generator. In *FIRST Power Up* (2018), the robot utilized a fast, articulated intake system for manipulating game pieces and a reliable scale balancing mechanism. Design philosophy emphasizes modularity and serviceability, allowing for rapid repairs during competition. The team's drive train designs often employ swerve drive modules for superior maneuverability, and its control systems integrate advanced sensors like LiDAR and machine vision cameras for autonomous operation.